The attack erupted apparently in response to a declaration by the army chief of defense staff earlier this week.

General Tahirou Dembele ordered paratroopers to the frontline of the French-led war with Malian fighters in the north, adding that he had decided to incorporate the elite soldiers within other units.

But the paratroopers - who formed part of an elite presidential guard protecting Toure before his ouster in March 2012 - refused to join their new units or to leave their camp.

Meanwhile, a man on a motorbike blew himself up at a military checkpoint near the northern city of Gao.

Thousands of people in Mali have been forced to flee their homes since France launched its war on the West African nation on January 11, under the pretext of halting the advance of fighters in the country's north.

The French war involved some 3,500 troops on the ground supported by warplanes, helicopters and armored vehicles.

In mid-January, the European Union approved the dispatch of about 450 military personnel to assist the African-led International Support Mission to Mali (AFISMA).

On February 1, Amnesty International condemned “serious human rights breaches” including the killing of children in the French war in Mali.

Some political analysts believe that Mali’s abandoned natural resources, including gold and uranium reserves, could be one of the reasons behind the French war.

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Pan-African News Wire

The Pan-African News Wire is an international electronic press service designed to foster intelligent discussion on the affairs of African people throughout the continent and the world. The press agency was founded in January of 1998 and has published thousands of articles and dispatches in newspapers, magazines, journals, research reports, blogs and websites throughout the world.
The PANW represents the only daily international news source on pan-african and global affairs.
PANW editor Abayomi Azikiwe is often solicited by various newspaper, radio and television stations for comment and analysis on local, national and world affairs. He serves as a political analyst for Press TV and RT worldwide satellite television news networks as well as other international media in the areas of African and world affairs. He has appeared on numerous television and radio networks including Al Jazeera, CCTV, BBC, NPR, Radio Netherlands, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, South Africa Radio 786, Belgian Pirate Radio, TVC Nigeria and others.